Cigar-bunching machine.



No. 657,596. Patented Sept. ll, I900.

- A. GORDON.

CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

(Applicationflled Nov. 11, 1897.)

3 Sheets-finest l.

(n9 Model.)

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ls versus co. morauma. Wmsron. n. c.

No. 657,596. Patented Sept. ll, I900.

A. GORDON.

CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

(Applicltion fll d Nqv. 11, 1897.) (No Modem 3 $haets-$heei 2.

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No. 657,596. 1 Pzitented Sept. I900.

A. GUBDON.

CIGAR BU'NCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER GORDON, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ClGAR-BUNCHINGMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,596, dated September 11, 1900.

. Application filed November 11,1897. SerialNo.658,l96. \Nomoclel.)

structed, all as morefully hereinafter described and specifically pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my cigar-bunching machine. is a-vertical cross-section in a plane parallel with Fig. 1 and substantially on line a: w in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section substantially on line at a; in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portion of the top of the machine with one side of the frame removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 4, substantially on line y y thereof. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic representations of Fig. 5, showing the parts indifferent positions of operation. tion of the pocket of the bunching-apron and one of its swinging wing-guides. Fig. 9 is a cross-section on line 2: 2, Fig. 3, looking toward the left. Fig. 10 is a cross-section on line 2 2 Fig. 3, looking toward the right. Fig. 11 is a cross-section on line 2'' z in Fig. 3 looking toward the right.

The bunch-is rolled by a bunching-apron A, (particularly shown in cross-section in Figs.

5, 6', and 7,) and both ends of this'apron are preferably attached at the same point, which.

is the roll (,t. This bunching-apron passes around a rol'l b, stationarily journaled in the frame, thence around the stationary bunching-roll B, thence during the operation of the machine, as in Fig. 5, around the bunch to be rolled, Lhence'oVer the oscillating segmental bunching-table C, thence overaroll 0, carried by the table, and thence back to the roll a. A small idlerroll b keeps the bunching-aprou pressed against the face of the bunching-table. The roll a is journaled in an oscillating frame d, which is carried by Fig. 2.

isition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. table is supported in frontof the bunching- Fig. 8 is a cross-sec. table by means of rounded pins m in the oscillating lever 11..

H is a pressure-roll 'movably supported in a frame 0 in front of the bunching-roll B and ,the bunching-table, with which it has a pivotal connection at e, andfis a spring to normally hold this oscillating frame against the fixed stop h. This roll a forms the means for adjusting the length of the bunching-apron,

and to this end it is preferably provided at one end with a ratchet with which cooperates a pawl, so that by turning the roll in one direction or the other the apron can be lengthened or shortened at will, according to the requirements of the bunch. The bunchi-ngtable is carried by radial arms g, terminating atthe inner end in bosses h 71.2, which are sleeved upon a shaft E, journaled transiversely in the frame, one of the bosses 7L2 beingprovided with a gear-pinion 1', by means of which motion is communicated to the bunching-table, as shown in Fig. 3.

F is an apron-tightener consisting of a roll journaled in the arms of an oscillating frame It, which oscillating frame is carried by radial arms j, secured upon the shaft- E, motion being communicated to the apron-tightener by a pinion Z upon the shaft E.

(See Fig. 3.). G is a binder-table normally held in the po- This curved gnideslots m, which guide-slots are formed in the frame of the machine and permit the movement of the table during the operation from the position shown in dotted lines into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, this motion being accomplished byan (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

adapted to yield vertically.

I is a bunch-receiver normally projecting in front of the bunching-table below the table G, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This'bunchreceiver is formed with two vertical sides pp, the latter of which is slidingly supported by springs upon the bed-plate 19 The latter is provided at its ends with su pportingpins engaging into guide-slots g in the sides of. the frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby in operation the receiver is adapted to move from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 into the position shown in Fig. 7, this movement being brought about by means of the oscil- J J are two guide-fingers engaging into the endsof the fold in the bunching-apron.

These guide-fingers are free to oscillate on pivot-pin s, pivotally secured in the sides of the frame in such a manner that in the operation of bunching the side flanges O'of the table engage the guide-fingers, andthey are thereby carried into the'folds of the bunching-apron opposite the ends of the bunch, and thereby prevent any extended distortion or displacement of the same.

Upon the top of one of the sides of the frames is supported or formed the lower platen K of a mold-press. platen extend two vertical guide-rods L L, which at the lower end are united by a cross bar M and have sleeved upon the upper ends the follower-plate N, which is yieldingly held in position by means of coil-springs t, adj ustably secured by the nuts 13.

The motion of the different parts is produced in the following manner: 0 is a transverse shaft journaled in, the lower end of the frame, by means of which motion is communicated to the machine. This shaft has at one end a clutch-pinion u, through which motion is communicated at will, to a'gear- Wheel v upon a main drive-shaft P,'as shown in Fig. 3. This drive-shaft is provided with a toothed wheel Q, with which a dog R is' adapted to engage under control of the oper ator. The dog R is pivotallysecured to a cam-disk S, (see Figs. 3 and 10,) which is sleeved upon the shaft P, and the shaft carries with it another cam-disk T, The camdisk S is provided-.with suitable cam-grooves into which engages a wrist-pin of an oscillating segmental rack U, and the cam T is pro vided with a cam-groove into which engages a wrist-pin on the oscillatingsegmental rack U, all so arranged that by the engagement of the dog B into the toothed wheel Q the cams S and T revolve together and impart an oscillating reciprocating; movement to the seg-" mental racks U U, which in turn communicates an oscillating motion to the bunching table and the apron tightener F. Thetoothed gear-wheel Q revolves continuously; but the dog R, which engages therewith, is automatically tripped. as soon as it has performed one complete revolution. To this'end the dog'R has a wrist-pin R, which engages into a'groove R of the cam-disk R This cam-disk R is,

- loosely sleeved upon the shaft Band is piv-j otally connected at a point of its peripheryby a link R with the treadle-lever V, which is under control of the operator. The camg-roove R is concentric with the shaft, eX-- cept for the short eccentric portion R ,'which is sufficiently eccentric to hold the dog R out. 1

of engagement with the toothed wheel P. However, when the treadle V is depressed by the. operator the cam-disk R is partially revolved, sufficiently to engage the dog B into Through this'lower thereby be compelled to perform one complete revolution, or until its wrist-pin reenters the eccentric portion R of the guidegroove. To'withdraw the dog more fully from engagement withthe toothed wheel-Q, I provide the disk R with a projection R which is adapted to strike against the fixed stop R on the frame, and diametrically opposite to the projection R, I connect the disk with the coil-spring R These parts operate in thefollowing manner: Asbefore stated, whenthe operator depresses the treadle V the disk R is sufficiently turned to throw the dog B into engagement with the toothed wheel, and'the dog will thenbe held by the concentric portion of the groove R in engagement with the toothed wheel Q. During such travel (the operator having withdrawn his foot from the treadleV) the frictional 1 contact of the wrist-pin of the dog R in the ;-guide-groove R will naturally turn the disk jR until its projection R is arrested by contact with the stop R'Qbutthe moment the dog R, after having completed one revolu- Ztion, is thrown out of engagement with the itoothed wheel Q the spring R being under gtension, will rock the disk R suificiently back again to throw the dog R still farther away iffrom the teeth of the wheel Q toprevent any gpossibility of scraping and damaging the teeth ;fby too-close proximity, as would happen othrjerwise.

fby means of-a toothed wheel Q on the oppoisite end of the shaft P,'which transmits mo- ;tion to'cam-wheel S through the medium of ia dog in precisely the same manner as motion iis transmitted, as before described, from the ltoothed wheel Q to the cam-wheel S, theonly idiflt'erence-being that the guide cam-groove 5R as shown in Fig. 11, has two eccentric porgtionsR? diametrically opposite each other, Zwhereby the depression of the treadle V imiparts only halfof a revolution to the cam S. The earn-disk S has a cam-groove into which iengages aWrist-pinW on the cross-bar M, all gso arranged that one-half of the revolution fof the cam-disk' S" will draw down the fol: ilowerN upon the molds and tightly clamp em, while by the other half of the revoluon the'follower is lifted 01f again to release the molds. qThecam-diskTis provided with iother suitable cam-grooves orca'm-guides to The operation of the press is accomplished 'limpart the necessary oscillating motion to theoscillating levers r and n, which are fconpled in pairs connected by suitable transverse shafts and impart the required oscillating movement to the table G and bunch-receiver I.

In practice, the parts being arranged as shown-and described, the operation is as folailows: The parts being in the normal position shown in Figs. 2and 4, the operator puts the necessary amountof filler to make a bunch into the pocket of the bunching-apron and lays the binder on the table G, so that it will slightly project over the edge, as shown in Fig. 4. Then the operator imparts motion by depressing the treadleV momentarily, the dog B being thereby thrown into engagement with the toothed wheel Q, which imparts motion to the cam-wheels S and T. The carnwheel S has a cam-groove which actuates the segmental rack U in advance of the segmental rack U, and thus the bunching-table begins to move first into the position shown in Fig. 5, without the tightener-roll as yet having moved from its normal position. When this position of the bu nching-table is obtained, the hunch is whollyinclosed within the pocket and the table now momentarily stops, while the tightener-roll F begins to move by the engagement of the cam-disk S with the segmental rack U, the relative position of the -racks at this. moment being shown in Fig. 9. The roll while the table is thus stationary moves from the position shown in Fig. 5 into the position shown in Fig. 6, with the consequent result that the slack is taken out of the bunching-apron and the hunch is compressed as far as is necessary, the pressure being equalized by the yielding connection of the roller a with the bunchingtable. When the relative position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 6, is obtained, the bunchingtable and the tightenerroll move in unison together andcontiuue to move until the final position in Fig. 7 is obtained. During this movement the bunch is rolled in the well known manner in the pocket of the bunching-apron, and simultaneously therewith the binder is wrapped around it. This binder has been brought into the position shown in Fig. 5 during the first movement of the launching-table by the actuating connections described, and in this positionthe loose overhanging front edge, being pressed on by the roller 1-1 against the bunching-table, will naturally follow the apron and be wrapped around the bunch, and then the table, having passed beyond the bunching-roller, will drop into the bunch-receiver I, which meanwhile has been moved by its particularIconnection into the position shown in Fig. 7. The parts then all return again to their normal position, which permits the operator to take the bunch out from the receiver 1 and place it in the mold for pressing. When the number of molds for which the press is qualified is filled, the operatonputs his foot onthe treadle V", and thereby operates the press. The first half of the revolution raises the follower sufficiently to allowthe operator to remove the.

molds previously inserted, which are now removed and the newlyfilled molds put in place.

-tion.

The function of the fingers J is to engage intothe folds of the bunching-apron nearthe ends, thereby to hold it properly distended and provide against accidental disengagement, and it will be seen that as soon as the bunching-table is moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 the fingers, being freely hinged, are pushed back into the folds of the bunching-apron by the marginal flanges G on the segmental table 0 and remain there while the bunch is being rolled.

I wish to particularly point out some of the advantages which I obtain by my construc- First, the particular arrangement of the oscillating bunchiug-table with the apron passing over and around it on all sides disposes of the bunohing-apron of good length in a very compact space, and at the same time both ends are carried by the same yielding roller a, so that no portion of it can be unequally strained. The use of the guidefingers J also permits the employment of a wider bunching-apron than ordinarily in use, and thus my machine reduces the wear and tear on the bunching-apron to a minimum and makes its operation more uniform. It will be seen,.fnrther, that by the operation of the tightener-roll Fthe hunch is fully compressed in the-pocket to its intended limit before any part of the binder is pulled around it. This is a very important point in manufacturing proper bunches.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the bunchi ng-roll,-

contract said pocket and yielding connection between said bunehing-apron and table permitting of the tensioning of said-apron on each side of said pocket. by the action of said tightene-r. I

2. The combination with the bunching-roll an oscillating segmental bunching-table and a bunching-apron in the form of an endless slack loop surrounding said roll and table, having a bunch-pocket formed from the slack in said loop,,0f a tightener rock-frame within said loop adapted to extend the same to contract said pocket, a take-up roll secured to said apron, anda rock-frame in which said roll is IIO rotatorily adjustably secured having a yielding connection to, said bunching-table;

3. The combination withthe bunching-roll,

anoscillating segmental bunchirig-table, and a bunching-apron in the form of an endless slack loop surrounding said rolland table having a pocket formed therebetween in the initial positionof the table from the slackiu said loop; of a binder-table having one edge ear said bunching table at the forward edgeofsaid pocket and extending Outward there from, means for supporting and guidingsaidbinder-table, and mechanism for moving said binder-tableand bunching-table correspondinglyin closing said pocket to bring the binder in position to be rolled around the bunch.-

. 4. The combination with the bunching-roll, an oscillating segmental bun ching-table and a bunching-apron in the form of an endless slack rloop surrounding said roll and table having a pocket formed therebetween, in the initial position of the table, from the slack in said loop; of a binder-table having one edge near said bunching-table at the forward edge of said pocket and extending outward there-f p from, means for supporting and guiding said binder-table mechanism for moving said binder-table and bunching-table correspondinglyin closing said pocket'to bring the bind er in a position to be'rolled around the bunch,

andthe presser-roll H, for the 'purposedescribed;v l '5. The combination with the bunching-roll,

an oscillating bunching table and the bunching-apron having a pocket for the bu nch therein, and means for holding the'apron whereby it can be drawn upon in order to roll the bunchin the pocket, of freely-swinging members, fingers carried by said members and projecting into said pocket fromeach side, 1 and means for swinging said members where-;

by thev fingers are adapted to guide the edges otthe apron during the rolling of thebunch.

6. The combination with the bunching-roll,

the oscillatingsegmehtal bunchi-ng-table and "the bunching-apron having the pocket for the bunch formed therein,of freely-swinging-fin-J gers projecting into said pocketfrom opposite sides, and marginal-flanges'on said segmental table adapted to swing said fingers backward to form'guides forthe edges of said bunch- Y I ing-apron during the rolling of the bunch.

' ism loosely sleeved upon'said shaft, of a-clutch The combination with a drive {shaft fadapted-torun continuously and the actuating cam or wheel for the jbunching mechanfor coupling and automatically disengaging cured to" said" cam or wheel and adapted to fengage said toothed wheel, an annular track-1 or; camway with which said dog engages said cam orwheeland shaft, comprisingja toothed wheel ,fixed upon said shaft, a dog seadapted toho'ldthelatter inen'gagementwith said toothed wheel to'lock the cam and toothed wheel together and having an eccentric por-i v tion fordisengaging said dog fromsaidtoothed wheel, and means for slightly rotating said 1 track-to force saidfdog fromsaid eccentric} v portion of the} track and therebyeng'age'fit withsaid'toothed'wheel. Q

' 8. The combination with the drive sha'ft andthe actuating cam or wheel for the bunching mechanism loosely sleevedthereon, offa 5 oured to saidcam or wheel and adapted to entoothed wheel fixed upon said shaft, a dog se- --pose described. 1 I

gage with said toothed wheel, an annular track orguideway withwhich said dog has a traveling engagement, having one or more eccentricgportions for throwing said dog out of engagement with said toothed wheel,means for slightly rotating said track oppositely from the rotation of said shaft to force said dog from said eccentric portion'and therebycause itto engage with said toothed wheel and travel therewith until it again engages with said eccentric portion, and means for automatically rotating said track afterthe disengagementof said dog from said toothed wheel,

to fully clear the former from the latter.

. 9. The combination with the driveshaft l and the actuatingcam or wheel for the bunching mechanism loosely journaled thereon, of a toothed wheel fixedupon said shaft, a dog secured to said cam-wheel and adapted to engage with said toothed wheel, the disk R sleeved upon said shaft havingan annular tracker groove R with one or more eccentric portionsR, the Wrist-pin RI 011 said dog having a traveling engagement with said track R the link R and treadle-lever V connected Jwithsaid disk R the arm R, on saiddisk,

the fixed stop R therefor, and the spring R all arranged substantially as and for the pur- 10. A ciga'r-bunching machine comprising a bunching-roll, a segmental bunc'hing-table, a

bunching apron in the form of -an endless slack loop surrounding said roll and table and having a pocket for'medtherebetween by the slack in the loop, means forholding the apron whereby it-can bedrawnj upon in order to roll the bunch in the pocket, a tightener roek-' frame within said loop and disconnected therefrom, and mechanism for intermittently rocking said table andtightener frame,timed to first rock the table to close the pocket, then to rock said tightener to contract the pocket finally: to move said table and tightenertogether to roll the bunch.,

' 1 11. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frameand bunchingmechanism supported thereon, of a mold-press adjacentlto'said bunching mechanism com priszing a stationary lower platen K, the'follower plate N, operating mechanism therefor'comv prising a barM connected to-said follower and 1slidinglysecuredintheframe, the drive-shaft P adapted to vrotate continuously, the cams S and" S sleeved thereon, the former adapted to operatethebunchingmechanism and the lat ter theJ-bar ofjthep're'ss mechanism, and aclutchfor-eachof said cams S and; S, each clutch adapted to couple and uncouple its cainwith' the drive-shaft and comprising a toothed"whe,el secured to thedrive-shaft, a doglse'cured to its cam, a movable element having an annular track with which said dog engages adapted'tohold the same in engageduring the rolling operation of the apron and mentiwithsaid toothed wheel, and provided with one or more eccentric portions, and a treadle-lever for moving the said track element to disengage said dog from said eccentric portion or portions.

12. In a cigar-benching machine, the combination of a bunching-roll, a rotary shaft, an oscillating segmental bunching-table having sleeves loosely engaging on said shaft, a gear secured to one of said sleeves, a bunchingapron in the form of an endless slack loop surrounding said table and roll and having a bunch-pocket formed therebctween from the slack in the loop, a tightener for said apronloop secured to said rotary shaft, a pinion secured to said rotary shaft, segmental racks meshing with said pinions for operating the table and tightener, and mechanism for imparting the proper relative movement to said segmental racks.

13. lhe combination with a bunching-roll, a launching-table, a hnnching-apron having a pocket for the bunch therein and means for oscillating said table and apron, of a freelyswinging memberand a finger carried by said member projecting into said pocket from the side thereof and adapted to guide the edge of the apron during the rolling of the bunch.

14:. The combination with the bunching-roll and the apron having a pocket therein for the 

